The defendant rejected the verdict and the public prosecutor demanded a stiffer penalty. They have 30 days to appeal.

Badawi was sentenced in July 2013 to more than seven years in jail, in addition to 600 lashes, for insulting Islam, adopting a liberal ideology and establishing the Saudi Liberal Network. But an appeals court overturned the ruling, sending the case back for retrial.

The court dropped charges of apostasy against the defendant after his repentance before the judge. A decision was issued to close the network that was only active on the Internet.